Is 4 wheel drive better than 2? (and i don't mean cars)

[Lakey]

Yet again i know this has probably been done before, but unfortunatly i didn't see it.

Just been looking at motor mover's for my parents. In the caravan club mag towsure are doing a twin motor twin axle mover! having read about a few on the net today, it seems to me that two motors are generally limited too about 1700kgs!

Am i right or wrong in thinking it would be better to go for 4 motors as their van has an MTPLM of 1699 which is at the upper threshold of the movers capabilities?

Advice much appreciated

Gareth

 

[ChristineandAlan]

HIGH GARETH,if this is any help,we have twin movers for our twin axle caravan,we tow it with a kia sorento.i would say yes you would be better off towing with a 4/4 then you havent got to worry about the weight. hope this will help you.ALL THE BEST ALAN P/T

 

[ChristineandAlan]

HIGH GARETH sorry i read it wrong,twin movers is better,it wont drag the wheels.ALAN P/T

 

[Robtel]

Hi Gareth,

Four wheel drive mover will certainly move and turn a heavy twin axle easier than a two wheel version but is considerably more expensive. To me a lot would depend on how much you would use the mover.

In my own case when I changed to a twin axle two years ago I first bought a two wheel drive mover. The caravan weight was well within the capabilities of the mover and,as I'm not too bad at reversing, I thought all would be well. Where the problem arose was that my van is stored at the bottom of my sloping driveway and once out the drive the van needs to be turned 180 degrees on a road too narrow for it to be turned using the two vehicle. The two wheel drive motor did cope but only just and the 180 degree turn seemed to take for ever. Powrtouch offered what I thought was a very good price to upgrade to a four wheel drive which I accepted. Four wheel drive is, as you would expect, a big improvement. If I did not need the mover to get the van in and out of my drive I would likely have stuck with the two wheel version. You also have to think of the extra weight of the four wheel version, it all eats into the van's payload.

 

[Lutz]

I can't speak for twin axles, but the Truma mover that I've got on my 1800kg single axle copes quite well.

 

[Robtel]

I can't speak for twin axles, but the Truma mover that I've got on my 1800kg single axle copes quite well.

My previous van was a single axle, practically turned on the proverbial sixpence with a mover. Twin axle is a completely different experience at turning.

 

[Lutz]

I can't speak for twin axles, but the Truma mover that I've got on my 1800kg single axle copes quite well.

I appreciate that a motor mover will have a harder time with a twin axle. I only made my comment because Gareth said that 1700kg was more or less the limit without twin drives and that, if it is the case, only applies to twin axles.

 

[Steve L]

Hi Gareth.

You do have to worry about equpment weight matey.

Motor movers, gas bottles, awning, etc etc, all come out of the payload margin of the weight of your van. So just think of how many bottles of scotch you'd have to leave behind for the kids to party on.

Seriously though, the extra cost, extra weight, extra drain on the battery all add up to why not just take a driving coarse and learn to reverse the van with the car instead.

I have a hitch mounting motor mover which I use at home as I can't tug the van due to arthritis. But it is much more impressive and satisfying to be able to reverse the van onto the pitch inch perfect.

We tow an Abbey 540se with a Laguna series 1 estate which copes very well even though it tows to the max. I used to tow a Link 575 T/A with the same car again without difficulty.

Steve L.

 

[JTQ]

I am again talking about single axle use but feel there must be parallels with a double:

Your 1700 kg upper limit is very dependant on what inclines your parents believe they need to cater for and choice of mover model.

I use a Powrtouch Mk3 [the additionally gear one] for my 1900 kg single axle van. On my 1:14 sloped drive it handles the van with no problems using an 85 AHr battery.

Prior to this my Reich unit coped just as well with my 1700 kg van.

Undoubtedly 4 wheel drive must be better in traction and handling capability on a twin axle van, but it comes at near twice the weight penalty not to mention the cost.

The implications of the additional 30 to 40kgs off the usable payload would be a major factor in my decision making.

The two wheel drive is something of a compromise but it works after a fashion, as to an extent does any tight manoeuvring with a twin. Is this not a case where they could start with a single unit then upgrade if not found to their satisfaction? I believe Powrtouch are easy and flexible to talk to as might be the others.

 

[Dustydog]

I have the Powrtouch Twin which is two not four motors.

It copes extremely well with the Wyoming, just under 1700kgs, but going for tight turns is not good. We are very good at reversing with the Sorento in low ratio . SWMBO also tows so understands reversing.

4 motors would have been great but cost played a part and moreso a lot of changes would have been necessary eg moving the spare wheel and carrier, waste plumbing and the jacking points.

If your parents are not that good at reversing in tight spaces on or off site , and money is no object go four 4x4. Otherwise if they're like me 2 motors will do.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[andyp1]

I have a wyoming twin axle and Truma TE motor movers , despite only being two motors not four they work superbly.

The motors drive the front wheels and if you lower the jockey wheel as much as possible - taking some weight off the rear wheels - they turn the van quite well ( you obviously cant spin it in circles - but i don't think four movers would either!)

Andy

 

[Lakey]

Hi folks,

Thank's for the input, it a great a help. Just in answer to your post Steve L, to be fair my dad is pretty good at reversing the van however, if it not inch perfect to where my mother wants it a row persues!!!!!! As we often go away together, it usually ends up with me having to place their unit before mine. With a screaming 5yr old and 7 yr old and an excited dog in my car this can be a pain! So i'm starting to think their mover will be more for my sanity than their benefit!

Cheers all,

Gareth

 

[Jennifer_374461363]

We also have the Truma TE on our twin axle, 1900 kg, 1 in 10 driveway to put it on. We find it does what we need it to do, and is useful on sites and for hitching up.

We did not want the 60+kg weight of a 4 wheel mover.

 

[Steve L]

Hi folks,

Thank's for the input, it a great a help. Just in answer to your post Steve L, to be fair my dad is pretty good at reversing the van however, if it not inch perfect to where my mother wants it a row persues!!!!!! As we often go away together, it usually ends up with me having to place their unit before mine. With a screaming 5yr old and 7 yr old and an excited dog in my car this can be a pain! So i'm starting to think their mover will be more for my sanity than their benefit!

Cheers all,

Gareth

Know what you mean mate. We used to set up my wife's parents van first so that they could ply us with bacon butties and tea while we set ours up.

Glad your dad is ok at reversing. A lot of folks do rely on their movers too much but I can see that your dad's mover is more of a peace pipe. Why not give the remote to mum and retire to your van for the cuppa instead. (just kidding).

All the best

Steve L.